IND vs ENG: Ollie Pope scored a brilliant century against India on Day 3 of the first Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Stokes-men gained a crucial 126-run lead in the opening game of a five-match Test series.A day of bravery and courage 💪From trailing by 175, we lead by 126 🏏Match Centre: https://t.co/s4XwqqpNlL🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/ScfFE7lww3— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2024England lead by 126 runsAt stumps, England were 316/6, with Ollie Pope 148* and Rehan Ahmed 16* having built an unbeaten 41-run stand for the seventh wicket.India finishes on 436Earlier in the innings, India had resumed from their overnight score of 421/7, but spinners Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed scalped quick wickets to reduce the hosts to 436. That meant Rohits - men went into Englands second innings with a commanding lead of 190 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was the top scorer from India. He finished on 87. Englands part-time off-spinner, Joe Root stars with the ball, claiming 4 wickets haul.Solid top-order batting from EnglandIn their second innings, Englands batters started well as the pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 45 runs for the first wicket. English side lost their opener Zak Crawley (31) who was caught by Rohit Sharma at slip off Ashwins beautiful delivery. However, after his departure, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett forged a 68-run stand for the second wicket. Ben Duckett was dismissed for 47 by ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over at the score of 113/2.Bumrah in the afternoon session. Thats the tweet 🔥🔥England 3⃣ down now.Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/HGTxXf8b1E#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/1SS1uhwqZK— BCCI (@BCCI) January 27, 2024Ashwin vs StokesNotably, this was the 12th time that Ashwin scalped the wicket of Stokes in Test cricket. The 37-year-old bowler is known to bowl against the left-handers. Ashwin has conceded just 232 runs against Stokes in his career. The star spinner has dominated the English all-rounder in the 25 innings.📽️ R Ashwin to Ben StokesWhat a delivery 🙌#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/sxBGnhmhl0— BCCI (@BCCI) January 27, 2024Brilliant ton by Ollie Pope Meanwhile, Englands No. 3 batter showcased resilience with his patient knock and reached his century mark in 154 balls. England lost their fifth wicket at 163/5 when Ben Stokes was dismissed for six off Asawhins delivery. After the departure of Englands skipper Pope and Ben Foakes added a 112-run stand for the sixth wicket, to help England take a 100-plus lead. Ben Foakes was dismissed on 34 off Axar Patels delivery. YES, POPEY! 🙌 💯A HUGE century when we needed it most! 🏏Match Centre: https://t.co/s4XwqqpNlL🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴 | @OPope32 pic.twitter.com/vxB8CPsoJ4— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2024Spin dominatesIn the first innings, India bundled out England on 246 runs in the first innings on the back of the brilliant performance of their spinners. Indian batters responded brilliantly, courtesy of KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja, who all got out in their 80s in order to score runs at a higher strike rate.Ravi Ashwins record against some of the greatest Test batters.- An all time great. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Fo9GOA7v8K— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 27, 2024Ashwins record against some of the greatest Test battersIn the most dismissed batters by Ashwins list, the top three are three left-handers in Test cricket. Apart from the English skipper, Ashwin has dismissed Australias great David Warner 11 times and former English captain Alastair Cook 9 times in Test cricket. Steve Smith is on the fourth number, he was dismissed by Ashiwn 8 times. The charismatic spinner is also standing close to the mark of 500 Test wickets. Right now, Ashwin has scalped 495 Test wickets.
